POS0706 INCREASED ARTERIAL STIFFNESS AND ACCELERATED ATHEROSCLEROSIS IN TAKAYASU ARTERITIS
Authors: A. Kalyoncu Ucar, A. Ozdede, Y. Kayadibi, I. Adaletli, M. Melikoglu, I. Fresko, E. Seyahi
Journal: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases (2023)

<h3>Background</h3> Cardiovascular diseases are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in patients with Takayasu arteritis (TAK). Arterial stiffness and accelerated atherosclerosis contribute to the increased risk for cardiovascular morbidities in several inflammatory diseases. Although morphological changes have been well recognized, studies related with functional characteristics in TAK have been few. Shear wave elastography (SWE) is a non-invasive method of ultrasonography (US) to evaluate elasticity of biological tissues, by real time tracking and capturing the pace of the shear waves induced in response to the primary US waves. <h3>Objectives</h3> To evaluate arterial stiffness, as well as intima media thickness (IMT) and atherosclerotic plaques in the carotid arteries using US and SWE among patients with TAK and suitable controls. <h3>Methods</h3> Consecutive patients with TAK (50, 40F/5M; mean age: 39.8±8.2 years) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) (43, 38F/5M; 38.0±7.9 years) attending a single tertiary university hospital were studied in addition to apparently healthy hospital workers (57, 50F/7M: 39.5±7.1 years). <i>C</i>arotid artery IMT and SWE values were assessed using carotid artery B-mode US and SWE. Atherosclerotic plaques were noted. Disease duration, clinical characteristics and information related to immunosuppressive drug use were obtained from the patient's charts. Cardiovascular risk factors were determined. <h3>Results</h3> Study groups were balanced according to the most of the variables including mean age, gender ratio, BMI, past and current smoking history, post-menopausal status, the frequency of diabetes mellitus, the mean total, LDL, and HDL cholesterol levels and the median hsCRP levels (evaluated only in TAK and SLE). The mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels were significantly higher in both TAK and SLE patients compared to healthy controls (HC's). As shown in Table 1, the mean IMT in the right and left carotid arteries was significantly higher among patients with TAK, when compared to SLE and HCs. On the other hand, the mean SWE in the carotid artery was significantly increased among both TAK and SLE patients when compared to HCs, whereas patients with TAK had the highest values. After adjusting for cardiovascular risk factors, the significances remained robust. Only patients with TAK were found to have significantly increased frequency of carotid artery plaques (TAK: 22.0%, SLE: 4.7%, HC's: 5.3%, p=0.006). IMT and diastolic blood pressure levels were found to be associated independently with SWE. <h3>Conclusion</h3> Our study indicates that among patients with TAK, both atherosclerosis and arterial stiffness are increased and appear to be closely related. Arterial stiffness along with severe hypertension and accelerated atherosclerosis could contribute to the increased risk for cardiovascular morbidities in TAK. Furthermore, SWE could be an indicator of cardiovascular risk that can be surveyed in TAK. <h3>REFERENCES:</h3> NIL. <h3>Acknowledgements:</h3> NIL. <h3>Disclosure of Interests</h3> None Declared.